Darkness in Green & Gold: A contemporary fantasy adventure (Green & Gold, book 3)

by Jo Holloway

  Jory’s desire for information had been understandable. Her feelings of guilt and lingering anger were harder to deal with. The whole drive, Wes kept looking over and telling her to stop when he could see her lost in thought again.

  When they pulled into the parking lot, Mak stalked away with only a quick thanks to Cara’s mom, still upset over not having his own car, and the bloodstains he hadn’t been able to completely wash out. Cara’s throat tightened when her mom climbed out of the driver’s seat to hug her. Sandra had been beside herself when she found out what had happened to them at the park—at least, the version they’d told police. She finally released her daughter, saying, “Take care of yourself.”

  “It’s school, Mom. I’ll be fine here.” Cara slung her backpack across her shoulder to set out after Jenner and Wes.

  “Do you feel any of them near here?” Wes asked as they made their way across campus.

  “I honestly don't know. I'm annoyed, but mostly at myself.” She cast a guilty look at the brace and sling on his arm.

  “You have to stop that. The doctors said I'll be fine with a couple months of physio after this heals. It’s only muscle. Lots of blood flow to make it heal well.”

  “And to make it bleed like crazy.”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “At least the knife missed the ligaments. The only thing I'm mad about is missing the next couple months of archery, and it's her fault, not yours.”

  “I'm not sure I can separate the feelings. How am I supposed to know when I'm mad, or when one of them is around me?” The question had been bothering her for weeks, crystallized now by the heightened emotions of the encounter with Lydia.

  Jenner slipped between them. “There are only faint impressions nearby, aside from Tomyx and Ryx, of course. None of the others are close enough to recognize.”

  “So what did Josh say?” Wes asked.

  “He was going to talk to some people he knows. Other Pyxsees, I guess. He thinks it’s a coincidence this Pyx is using my mom’s friend, but I don’t know. I told him it seemed like she was coming after me, and he went all quiet. He says there’s no reason she would, but it felt . . . off.”

  “When’s the next time he’ll be here to visit?”

  “Not sure. Easter, maybe, if we’re lucky.”

  “Hm. And you don’t have any ideas why a Pyx would hate Cara so much, Jenyx?”

  “I do not.”

  “Then we’ll have to figure it out.” Wes split off toward the Lodge at the fork in the path.

  “Tell Jory I'll be by in a bit so he can yell at me in person,” she called to him.

  Wes shook his head and walked away. She was being ridiculous, and he didn't need to say it. Jory would never yell at her. His messages had been purely concern for Wes and wanting to know what happened. It didn’t stop how she felt.

  “Allow me a moment to check the area nearby. I am relatively certain it is safe and your feelings at the moment are your own; however, it does not hurt to be cautious,” Jenyx said.

  That didn’t make it better. Standing alone in the cold air outside the Cedars, she was left with only her thoughts while Jenner sniffed out any scents in the nearby woods. How could Wes expect her to stop feeling terrible? Her actions had put him in danger. Lydia was being used in a horrifying way. And all she could do about any of it was stand around fuming.

  She'd have to find a way. She'd have to figure out how to turn off her own feelings enough to pick out the hostility that didn't belong to her. It probably wouldn’t work, but she had to try something. If nothing else, she could try to use her emotional radar as an early warning system. She could try to keep her friends safe.

  A hand on her shoulder made her jump. She whirled to find Jory's blue eyes looking at her like she was the one who'd been hurt. So much for an early warning system. She hadn't even heard him approach.

  He pulled her in close. “Hey, Cares. Are you okay?”

  To her horror, tears sprang to her eyes. She nodded against his shoulder.

  “That is some freaky stuff.” He released her. “I can’t believe you saw one of them. You guys scared me. I'm glad you weren't hurt.”

  “You talked to Wes already?”

  “Uh huh. Passed him on the way here. He said you fought like a Viking.”

  She snorted and sniffed back her tears. “I doubt he said that, but I did go a little berserk.”

  “My Mathesson ancestors would be proud.” Jory's grin split his face, and he draped an arm over her shoulder.

  Jenner emerged around the corner of the building, and Jenyx gave her the all clear. They walked in together. They had almost reached the door to her room when she remembered. She ducked from under Jory’s arm and turned to smack her friend in the shoulder.

  “I forgot. How did dinner go? Do you ask Liv out yet?”

  His grin turned sheepish.

  “You did. You finally did, didn't you?”

  He nodded. She entered her room with a little dance, glad to find it empty. She dropped her backpack and turned to give Jory another hug, a happy one this time.

  “I'm so glad,” she squealed. “It took you long enough.”

  “Told you I was waiting for the right time. It was a perfect day.” His face flushed. “Sorry, I mean it started out perfect. Once we found out about you and Wes, she was really worried too. We were all freaking out a bit after that. Including Rhys.”

  “Go back. I want to know about the perfect part.” She stamped down the butterflies that had started a familiar dance.

  “You mean the part where Rhys asked about you?” He had the nerve to actually wink at her.

  “Shut up.” The butterflies fought back. She shook her head. Of course Rhys had asked. They’d encountered another one of the Pyx using a human pyxis, like the one who’d attacked his sister. Plus, Wes had been in the hospital at the time, and he would at least have asked about that. “No, Sunshine, go back to the part where you finally asked out the girl of your dreams after almost four months.”

  He laughed. “No way. Too soon for our first fight. Liv would be pissed if I took away whatever girl talk you two will have later.”

  “I won’t tell her, I swear.” She pouted when he shook his head.

  “All I can say is dinner with her dad was pretty terrifying, but it went okay. Rhys covered a few times when I wasn’t sure what to say. I’m glad he’s been so cool. It was intense, but afterward, everything finally felt right. I can’t tell you details. That’s Liv’s territory.”

  “Fine. Anyway, I'm glad you asked her before I ruined it. Sorry for spoiling your perfect day.”

  “About that—next time one of my best friends gets stabbed, I expect the other one to tell me right away. Like immediately.”

  “Next time?”

  “You know what I mean. You seem to have some dangerous friends.” He shot a look toward Jenner. “Now come see Liv with me. She’ll want to see you too.”

  LIV JUMPED UP WHEN they entered her and Kaylee’s crowded room. Ignoring the rest of the people behind her, Liv checked Cara carefully, and totally unnecessarily.

  “We were so worried.” She pulled Cara into a hug. “I have so much to tell you,” she whispered in Cara’s ear before she took Jory’s hand and they left together.

  Cara’s heart lifted at the laughter floating down the hall as they walked away. She turned back to the other four people waiting to ask how she was.

  “You’re okay, right?” Kaylee asked. “You’re still good to race on Friday? Liv was telling us some crazy guy attacked you in town. What the heck is going on in Portland?”

  “Maybe let her breathe first.” Ethan rested a hand on Kaylee’s leg, and her intense look softened.

  Mike stood up and pulled the other chair out from Liv’s desk, placing it beside the one he’d occupied. “Yeah. Here, sit down.”

  “Thanks, Mike. I’m okay, though.” Cara took a seat next to Delaney on Liv’s bed. When Mike’s face fell, she quickly looked across to Kaylee. “And yes, I’m fine to
race.”

  “Is Wes going to be all right?” Delaney asked.

  “Yeah. Wes will be okay. I’m fine. Everyone’s all right. A little freaked out, but otherwise fine.”

  What had Liv told them? The room held a strange vibe.

  “What did the guy look like?” Mike asked. “Were you scared?”

  She shifted on the bed. “Um, I don’t know. He looked like a normal guy, I guess. There wasn’t really time to be scared until after.”

  How was she going to weasel out of this conversation? This was not the group with whom she wanted to discuss specifics. She cast around for anything else.

  “So did Liv share her news too? That’s great about her and Jory dating now, right?”

  “Really great,” Mike said.

  She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard him talk this much. He was around enough since Kaylee had started dating Ethan in the fall, but she’d never given Mike much thought. He and Ethan were basically inseparable. Plus, the four of them were cross country teammates, so she saw him there too, but this chattiness was new. And weird.

  Her gold eyes darted between the faces in the room. Kaylee had a strangely hopeful expression, and Ethan stared at the floor with a smirk. Mike met her eyes and then dropped his gaze to his hands. She started to get a sinking feeling.

  Jenner whimpered, and the green gleam crossed his eyes.

  “You are uncomfortable. Is something wrong?” Jenyx asked in her mind. “If we need to leave, Jenner could provide an excuse.” Jenner gave a tiny growl.

  “I should probably take Jenner outside . . .”

  She did need to work on suppressing her feelings, and everyday awkwardness was probably a good place to start, but the urge to run away right now was strong.

  Delaney broke from staring into space and turned to her. “Do you think it’ll leave a scar?”

  “Huh?”

  “Wes. Do you think the cut will leave a scar?”

  “Probably. It was really deep.” Cara’s eyebrows pinched at Delaney’s frown.

  “Oh, hey, Cara, we were just talking about the Valentine’s dance, weren’t we, guys?” Kaylee’s bright cheer was over the top, even for her.

  Yep. Something was up. It looked like she’d have to start practicing now. How did she stop her feelings from bubbling up? She tightened against the squirming sensation.

  Breathe, Cara. “Oh yeah? Is everyone going?”

  Delaney shrugged, looking lost in thought, but Kaylee and Ethan both nodded.

  Mike stopped staring at his hands. “Um, are you? Because I was sort of wondering if you, er, maybe wanted to go . . .”

  “Oh.” Oh. A slow breath helped her mind push back the discomfort.

  Think.

  “That’s so nice, Mike.” It was a good start—polite, kind. Now what? “But I’m already going with someone.”

  Oops. Where the crap did that come from? Now what?

  “Oh. Yeah. Sure. That’s cool.” He went back to studying his fingers.

  The room deflated.

  “Is Wes going?”

  Cara turned to stare at Delaney after her quiet question. Oh.

  Before she knew it, she blurted, “Yeah. With me.”

  Double crap.

  What was it about two birds with one stone? That’s right—it killed them. But Mike was nice enough. And Delaney was the sweetest person she knew. Feelings or no feelings, she didn’t want to kill anything.

  “You know . . . because he didn’t want to deal with having to dance or anything with his arm all messed up. I said we’d hang out on the fringes together.” The lump in her stomach softened when the tension in the room eased. “We can all hang out.”

  She returned Delaney’s smile and stood.

  The first attempt at no-feelings Cara was a clear disaster. Now she needed to inform Wes of this whole dance debacle. Inevitably, her mind flashed to an image of Rhys, and a dance a long time ago. Her fingers itched to reach into her pocket and pull out her phone where the only evidence it had ever happened existed in the form of a photo. Ugh, she should really have deleted it by now. It was beyond time to move on. She blinked hard and glanced around. Oh, what the hell . . .

  “Save me a dance, Mike?”

  His head jerked up. “Sure.”

  SHE PRACTICALLY RAN along the path to the Lodge. Jory and Liv were still out, but Wes lay on his bed with his splinted arm propped up on a pillow. She crawled across his legs to his other side and lay down beside him with her head on his good arm.

  He watched her with raised eyebrows until she settled. “Um, Cara?”

  She closed her eyes against his sideways stare. “Don’t be mad. I sorta did a thing.”

  Small sounds told her he was searching for words and coming up with nothing. She opened her eyes and turned her head to meet his gaze.

  “So, uh, about the not caring what people think . . . You know, like we said at the hospital?” She took encouragement from his amused nod. “Any chance that would extend to, let’s say, maybe, going to the Valentine’s dance together?”

  He chuckled. “What did you do?”

  “Something super awkward. Sorry. If you prefer, I think Delaney would like to go with you, but I wasn’t sure you’d want to, and I needed an excuse not to go with Mike. Ugh. Sorry if I messed up.”

  “Nah, you’re fine. All that just happened?”

  “Yup.”

  “Wow.” He crossed one foot on top of the other. “Mike, hey?”

  “Don’t make me hurt you more.”

  “You know what this makes me think of . . .”

  “Shut up, or I won’t come watch movies with you anymore. And I have a whole lineup planned while you’re healing, vampires and hot werewolves included,” she threatened.

  Wes made a face. “All the more reason.”

  “Seriously, I feel bad enough as it is. Poor guy is probably sick and tired of being the third wheel all the time with Kaylee and Ethan.”

  “Maybe.” He made a valiant effort not to laugh.

  “But you were right earlier. I really need to stop feeling bad about crap I can’t control. There’s way more important stuff going on than this. If I can push my own feelings out of the way, I can focus on noticing the Pyx when they come close again.”

  “How are you going to do that?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’ll just turn them off. Ignore them.”

  Jenner lifted his head and flicked his ears when Jenyx spoke. “You cannot dismiss your own feelings. They make you human. Your humanity is what you need, not a lack of emotion.”

  “Well, I can’t do it all at once, clearly. Look at Wes’s arm. Something’s gotta give. If I stop caring about this unimportant junk, then maybe I can tell when a big wave hits me that it’s coming from one of them.”

  Wes frowned. “I’m not sure that’s how it works.”

  “If either of you have a better idea, let me know.” When neither one offered an alternative, she hardened her resolve. It wasn’t like she had other options. With a slow breath, she embraced the silence and closed her eyes. Even the knock at the door didn’t disturb the peace she was working on.

  “Come in,” she and Wes both called at the same time, making her smile.

  “Hey, Wes. How are—Oh, hi.”

  The silk-smooth voice melted into her Zen. She opened her eyes to find Rhys standing in the doorway, staring at his feet.

  “Hey, man. Come in. What’s up?” Wes pulled his arm out from under her head and sat up.

  She propped herself up on her elbow and smoothed her hair, glancing at Wes. Weren’t they just talking about not caring what people thought?

  “I heard you were back. How are you?” Rhys asked.

  His eyes scanned the splint on Wes’s arm and shifted to Cara. He knew she and Wes were just friends. Not that it mattered. Nope, not caring.

  “We’re still here, thanks to Cara,” Wes answered.

  She scoffed. “I think you mean in spite of Cara.”

  Wes’s hea
d shook back and forth in front of her, and she pictured his eye-roll.

  “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.” Rhys blinked and his gaze shifted back to Wes. “Er, hurt worse, I mean.”

  “Thanks,” Wes replied with a hint of amusement in his voice.

  Cara grunted and sat up, tired of staring at the back of his head and missing half of what Wes said by not seeing his face.

  Rhys angled toward the door. “Oh, I also have a message for you. Dr. Flanagan wants to see you after class tomorrow.”

  “The headmaster wants to see him?” Cara blurted. “Why?” It came out a little brusque.

  He raised a shoulder. “I saw her when Liv and I drove up. She knew about your injury. I’m guessing she wants to check up on you.”

  “Oh. Okay. Thanks.” Wes stood to see him out. When the door closed, he turned back to Cara with an exasperated sigh. “Seriously?”

  “What?”

  “I get that you’re doing this not-caring thing, however dumb I think it is. But none of this was his fault.”

  “I thought you didn’t care what people thought.”

  “I don’t. But you do.” He gave her a stern look when she shook her head. “You care about him. Don’t make him think you don’t.”

  CHAPTER 8

  WES CAUGHT UP TO THEM on the way into the dining hall the next evening. The tightness around his jaw said he wasn’t exactly pleased.

  “So? What did the headmaster want?” Jory asked.

  “A tour guide.”

  “What do you mean?” Cara gave Wes a curious glance.

  Liv skipped up beside her. “Is this about the new guy? He was in bio with me and Wes today,” she told Cara and Jory.

  Wes nodded. “Apparently he chose archery for his active elective. Since I'm hurt, Dr. Flanagan asked if I'd help him catch up to the team and get settled. So now I'm stuck showing around some entitled British prep school transfer.”

  “He didn't seem so bad,” Liv said. “He did have the girls whispering all through class, though. Nothing like a British accent to stoke the gossip fires.”